State Police: Reps reverse self, pass executive bill through second reading

The House of Representatives on Tuesday reversed its earlier resolution on the passage of the bill seeking to establish State Police as part of the ongoing Constitution Review.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the “Need to Rescind the Resolution on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Establishment of State Police Services and for Related Matters and the Composition of the Conference Committee Pursuant to Order Nine, Rule 6 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives,” sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Francis Waive.

Leading the debate, Hon. Waive observed that the provisions of Sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129, 153, 197, the alteration of Chapter VI, Part III, Sections 214, 215, 216, as well as the Second and Third Schedules to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police Services, were debated and passed on Thursday, 11 June, 2026.

He also noted that on Thursday, 9 July, 2026, a 12-member Conference Committee was constituted to harmonise the decisions of both chambers on the State Police Services Bill.

“The House is aware that new facts have emerged regarding the provisions of the Bill, which necessitate a critical review and reconsideration of its clauses to align with the national security structure.

“The House is cognisant of the need to rescind the decision of the House on the passage of the Bill and the constitution of the Conference Committee on the Establishment of State Police Services,” he said.

Consequently, the House resolved to rescind its resolution of 11 June, 2026, on the Establishment of State Police Services and dissolve the 12-member Conference Committee constituted on 9 July, 2026.

The House thereafter passed the bill for second reading and referred it to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for further legislative action.

Reacting to the development, the House spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, urged that the House’s decision “should not be construed as a withdrawal of legislative support for State Police. Rather, it reflects the resolve of the House, working in concert with the Executive, to ensure that the constitutional framework establishing State Police Services is comprehensive, effective, and responsive to Nigeria’s evolving security realities.

“The House of Representatives remains committed to advancing constitutional reforms through a transparent and rigorous legislative process that strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions and responds effectively to the nation’s evolving governance and security needs.”

President Bola Tinubu had, in a letter with Reference No. PRES/134-1/H/31/BLS/CSP dated 15 June, 2026, titled: “Transmission of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill,” addressed to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, sought accelerated consideration and passage of the bill seeking to establish State Police as part of the ongoing Constitution Review.

He said: “I am delighted to present to the House of Representatives for consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services.

“This Bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians.”

According to the President, the proposed legislation is a critical component of his administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect citizens, and he expressed confidence that the House of Representatives would act quickly to consider and pass the bill.

To this end, President Tinubu called for the expeditious consideration of the proposed legislative framework.

Recall that the House had on Wednesday, 10 June, 2026, passed a bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to provide for the establishment of State Police, while the Senate, considering the same proposal, referred it to its Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration.

In the House, the bill was considered based on the report of the Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia).

The bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, a change that would empower state governments to establish, fund and operate their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force, which is currently the country’s only centrally controlled police institution under the Federal Government.

The House took its decision on the bill by a voice vote rather than through the electronic voting system.

Speaker Tajudeen, who presided over the session, announced that the two-thirds majority required for the alteration of the Constitution had been secured, and the bill was accordingly declared passed. No electronic division was conducted to produce a recorded tally of the votes.

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Meanwhile, barely a fortnight after the House passed the State Police Bill, the Senate, on Wednesday, 24 June, 2026, passed the Executive Bill on State Police, which seeks to empower state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly.

Clause 17 of the proposed constitutional amendment bill provides that: “While the Federal Police Service will continue to be headed by the Inspector-General of Police, each State Police Service shall be headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature of the state.”

The bill further outlines the operational relationship between governors and their respective State Police Commands.

Section 17(6) stipulates that: “A governor may issue lawful written directives of a general policy nature to the Commissioner of Police on matters relating to the maintenance of public safety and public order within the state.”

As part of measures aimed at curbing potential abuse, the Senate included safeguards in Section 17(7) of the proposed Executive Bill to protect political freedoms and civil liberties.

It states that: “A State Commissioner of Police shall not arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any person, political party or group merely for criticising the government except in accordance with the law.”